Solar System

Every hour the sun beams onto Earth more than enough energy to satisfy global energy needs for an entire year. Solar energy is the technology used to harness the sun's energy and make it useable. Today, the technology produces less than one tenth of one percent of global energy demand.

Many people are familiar with so-called photovoltaic cells, or solar panels, found on things like spacecraft, rooftops, and handheld calculators. The cells are made of semiconductor materials like those found in computer chips. When sunlight hits the cells, it knocks electrons loose from their atoms. As the electrons flow through the cell, they generate electricity.

On a much larger scale, solar thermal power plants employ various techniques to concentrate the sun's energy as a heat source. The heat is then used to boil water to drive a steam turbine that generates electricity in much the same fashion as coal and nuclear power plants, supplying electricity for thousands of people.

In one technique, long troughs of U-shaped mirrors focus sunlight on a pipe of oil that runs through the middle. The hot oil then boils water for electricity generation. Another technique uses moveable mirrors to focus the sun's rays on a collector tower, where a receiver sits. Molten salt flowing through the receiver is heated to run a generator.

Other solar technologies are passive. For example, big windows placed on the sunny side of a building allow sunlight to heat-absorbent materials on the floor and walls. These surfaces then release the heat at night to keep the building warm. Similarly, absorbent plates on a roof can heat liquid in tubes that supply a house with hot water.

Solar energy is lauded as an inexhaustible fuel source that is pollution and often noise free. The technology is also versatile. For example, solar cells generate energy for far-out places like satellites in Earth orbit and cabins deep in the Rocky Mountains as easily as they can power downtown buildings and futuristic cars.

But solar energy doesn't work at night without a storage device such as a battery, and cloudy weather can make the technology unreliable during the day. Solar technologies are also very expensive and require a lot of land area to collect the sun's energy at rates useful to lots of people.

Despite the drawbacks, solar energy use has surged at about 20 percent a year over the past 15 years, thanks to rapidly falling prices and gains in efficiency. Japan, Germany, and the United States are major markets for solar cells. With tax incentives, solar electricity can often pay for itself in five to ten years.

Energy Storage

The global energy landscape is shifting, and the game changer is energy storage.

The public has long favored solar and wind over fossil and nuclear energy technologies, at least in the abstract. The benefits are certainly compelling—no emissions, no fuel costs, low water requirements, no environmental damage during extraction, no worries about spills or meltdowns.

The intermittency of wind and solar resources, however, has long been a barrier to widespread use. Enter energy storage.

In our ongoing effort to provide information and resources to help you be an effective solar advocate and consumer, we’ve launched a new section called Good News You Can Use. A highlight of this issue’s Good News is Deutsche Bank’s report, Crossing the Chasm. This study predicts that batteries to store energy from intermittent sources will be available at a competitive price and on a large scale within the next five years or less.

The consequences of such rapid market penetration are profound. As Rocky Mountain Institute’s James Mandel and Leia Guccione point out in “The Economics of Load Defection,” the steadily improving economics of distributed energy technologies and energy storage present utility customers with new choices, many of which have long been the sole domain of utilities. Customers can get their electricity from the grid; a solar-plus-battery system; or some combination of the grid, solar photovoltaics (PV), and batteries. How utilities respond to this new reality will shape the choices their customers make. As the authors frame it, the U.S. electric grid is indeed at a metaphorical fork in the road.

Sky Stanfield and Amanda Vanega of the Interstate Renewable Energy Council are also concerned that all the stakeholders in this new energy landscape make choices that capture the many benefits of integrating distributed energy and storage into the electric grid. In “Deploying Distributed Energy Storage,” they urge regulators to develop innovative, forward-thinking policies that enable the smooth integration of renewables and energy storage into the existing electrical system. Proactive steps now to establish appropriate regulatory, market, and technical foundations for these technologies will reduce the likelihood of future market delays or slowdowns.

In “Creating a Safe, Stable Grid for Solar,” Don Gwinner offers an example of a technical fix for a specific challenge to increasing penetration of solar PV on the electrical grid. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Hawai’ian Electric Companies, and SolarCity are collaborating to evaluate PV inverter performance under simulated real-world operational conditions. This work enables safe deployment of grid-connected solar PV on homes and buildings in Hawai’i and elsewhere.

This issue’s Viewpoint, “Peak Oil Redux,” by Timothy Schoechle and James Turner, echoes another point in the Deutsche Bank report—that distributed energy resources and storage offer emissions-free electricity with no fuel cost. Schoechle and Turner note that we may already have seen “peak oil,” not because of scarcity, but because of abundance and falling demand. No matter how cheap oil gets, it will never get to zero. PV, on the other hand, has “already reached parity with fossil fuels in some places, and the equipment just gets better and cheaper every day.” And PV’s fuel cost will always be zero.

Crossing the Chasm draws some other notable conclusions, among them that the potential solar market is “massive,” and that more than half the countries the authors reviewed are likely at grid parity today. In addition, “the ratio of coal-based wholesale electricity to solar electricity cost was 7:1 four years ago. This ratio is now less than 2:1 and could likely approach 1:1 over the next 12-18 months.”

This train looks unstoppable. Rona Fried said it best in her Green Business column: “WOW!”

Maureen McIntyre is the editor and publisher of SOLAR TODAY.

Kind Of Battrey

Considering the importance which the battery holds in modern life, improvements have been slow in coming when compared to the advancements made in microelectronics. Let us not point the finger at laid-back scientists and engineers but realize the complexity encountered. As long as the battery relies on the electrochemical process, limitations will continue. These are low energy storage, slow charging, short service life and high cost per watt.

Each battery system offers distinct advantages but none provides a fully satisfactory solution. For many years, nickel-based batteries delivered reasonably good service, but this chemistry is being superseded with lithium-ion offering higher specific energy (capacity), lower self-discharge and no maintenance. Lead acid with its many warts and blemishes still holds a solid position and will continue to keep its lead as starter and deep-cycle battery. No other system can meet the price and robustness on bulk power.  

Never has there been so much activity in battery research and the electric vehicle (EV) is the catalyst for this frenzy. Expectations are high and the media is quick to announce a new battery that promises long runtime, good durability and is environmental friendly. Indeed, some systems show good potential, but most are years away from becoming commercially viable. Many disappear without a trace of the passing.

Typical failings of new battery concepts are weak load capabilities and short cycle life. Even a lemon can be made into a battery. Just poke a copper coin and galvanized nail into the innards. The power is low, and 500 lemons can light a flashlight bulb. Using seawater as an electrolyte has also been tried. The sea would produce an endless supply of electricity, but the retrieved energy is only good to light a flashlight. Corrosion of the plates limits the useful service life and renders the seawater battery impracticable.

With the interest in battery developments at an all-time high, it is only fitting that we review old and up-and-coming systems. The chemistries listed below are placed in roughly the sequence of development. Many older batteries are being revised to offer longer lives, extended runtimes and better pricing.

Nickel-iron

After inventing nickel-cadmium in 1899, Sweden’s Waldemar Jungner tried to use iron instead of cadmium to save money, but poor charge efficiency and gassing prompted him to abandon the project without securing a patent. In 1901, Thomas Edison continued the development as an alternative to lead acid for the electric vehicles, claiming superior performance. He lost out when gasoline-powered cars took over and was deeply disappointed when the auto industry chose lead acid as the starter battery.

The nickel-iron battery (NiFe) uses an oxide-hydroxide cathode and an iron anode with potassium hydroxide electrolyte to produce a nominal cell voltage of 1.2V. NiFe is resilient to overcharge and over-discharge and can last for more than 20 years in standby applications. Resistance to vibrations and high temperatures made NiFe the preferred battery for mining in Europe, and during World War II powered the German V-1 flying bomb and the V-2 rockets. Other applications are railroad signaling, forklifts, and stationary applications. NiFe has a low specific energy of about 50Wh/kg, has poor low-temperature performance and exhibits high self-discharge of 20 to 40 percent a month. These disadvantages together with high manufacturing cost prompted the industry to stay faithful to lead acid.

Nickel-zinc

Nickel-zinc (NiZn) batteries are similar to nickel-cadmium in that they use an alkaline electrolyte and a nickel electrode, but differ in voltage; NiZn provides 1.6V/cell rather than 1.2V, which NiCd delivers. Nickel-zinc was first developed in the 1920s but it suffered from short cycle life caused by dendrite growth and electrical shorting. Improvements in the electrolyte reduced this problem. Low cost, high power output and good temperature operating range make this chemistry attractive, and NiZn is being revived for commercial uses. NiZn charges at a constant current to 1.9V/cell, but cannot take trickle charge. The specific energy is similar to other nickel-based systems. NiZn is good for 200–300 full cycles, has no heavy toxic materials and can be recycled. The battery is also available in AA cells.

Nickel-hydrogen

When research for nickel-metal-hydride began in 1967, problems with metal instabilities shifted the development towards the nickel-hydrogenbattery (NiH). NiH uses a steel canister to store the hydrogen gases at a pressure of 1,200psi (8,270kPa). The cell includes solid nickel electrodes, hydrogen electrodes, gas screens and electrolyte that are encapsulated in the pressurized vessel.

NiH has a nominal cell voltage of 1.25V and the specific energy is 40–75Wh/kg. The advantages are long service life even with full discharge cycles, good calendar life due to low corrosion, minimal self-discharge, and a remarkable temperature performance of –28°C to 54°C (–20°F to 130°F). These attributes make NiH ideal for satellite use. Scientists are developing NiH batteries for terrestrial use and hope to supply markets for energy storage systems and the electric vehicle. The negatives are low specific energy and high cost. A single cell for a satellite costs thousands of dollars.

Zinc-air

Zinc-air batteries generate electrical power by an oxidation process of zinc and oxygen from the air. The cell can produce 1.65V, but 1.4V and lower achieves a longer lifetime. Removing a sealing tab activates the battery by enabling airflow and the battery reaches full operating voltage within five seconds. Once turned on, the battery cannot be stopped. Inhibiting airflow by adding a tape only slows degeneration.

Zinc-air batteries have similarities to the proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) by using oxygen in the air as fuel for the positive electrode. Air can, to a certain extent, control the rate of the reaction. Zinc-air is considered a primary battery; however, there are recharging versions for high-power applications. Recharging occurs by replacing the spent zinc electrodes, which can be in the form of a zinc electrolyte paste. A different type of zinc-air battery uses zinc pellets. Rechargeable zinc-air batteries have been tried on electric vehicles and discontinued.

At 300–400Wh/kg, zinc-air has a high specific energy, manufacturing cost is moderate, but the specific power (current handling) is low. In a sealed state, the self-discharge is two percent per year. Zinc-air is sensitive to extreme temperatures and high humidity. Pollution also affects performance; high ambient carbon dioxide reduces the performance by increasing the internal resistance. Typical applications are hearing aids and safety lamps at construction sites.

Silver-zinc

The silver-zinc battery served as an important power source in defense, aerospace, high-end TV cameras and other professional equipment that needed long runtime. High cost, short service life and the advent of Li-ion caused silver-zing to lose favor.

Rapid degradation of the zinc electrode and separator were the primary cause of failure in the original design. During cycling, the buildup of zinc dendrites pierced the separator and caused electrical shorts. Furthermore, the separator degraded by itself sitting in the potassium hydroxide electrolyte. This limits the shelf-life to about two years. Improvements in the zinc electrode and separator promise a longer service life and a 40 percent higher specific energy than Li-ion. Silver-zinc is safe, has no toxic metals and can be recycled, but the use of silver makes the battery expensive to manufacture.

Sodium-sulfur

Sodium batteries, also known as molten salt or thermal battery, come in primary and secondary versions. The battery uses molten salts as an electrolyte and operates at a temperature of 400–700°C (752–1,292°F). Newer designs run at a lower 245–350°C (473–662°F) temperature.

Conceived by the Germans during World War II and used in their V-2 rockets, the electrolyte of the molten salt batteries is inactive when cold and can be stored for more than 50 years. Once activated with a heat source, the battery can provide a high power burst for a fraction of a second or deliver energy over several hours. High power is made possible with good ionic conductivity of the molten salt. Primary sodium batteries are almost exclusively used for the military as a “one-shot” engagement in guided missiles; however, the interest lies in the rechargeable version.

The modern rechargeable sodium-sulfur is known as sodium-nickel-chloride battery or ZEBRA, so-called after the Zeolite Battery Research Africa project. The battery has a nominal cell voltage of 2.58 volts and a specific energy of 90–120Wh/kg, a level comparable with Li-manganese and Li-phosphate. The service life is about eight years and 3,000 cycles. It can be fast-charged, is non-toxic and the raw materials are abundant and at low-cost. ZEBRA batteries come in large sizes of 10kWh or higher. Typical applications are forklifts, railways, ships, submarines and electric cars in continuous use such as taxis and delivery vans. A growing market for sodium-based batteries is load leveling, also known as grid storage.

The ZEBRA battery must be heated to 270–350°C (518–662°F). Even with special insulation, heating consumes 14 percent of the battery’s energy per day, which results in the equivalent of an 18 percent self-discharge. A ZEBRA battery should be either on charge or in use. It takes 3–4 days to cool down; reheating requires about two days depending on the SoC at time of shutdown. Common failures are electrical shorts due to corrosion and dendrite growth, which increases self-discharge.

Experimental Rechargeable Batteries

Experimental batteries live in laboratories and connect to the outside world through glowing reports, mostly to entice investors. It is our hope that these developments will one day mature into a battery that does more than talking on cell phone; the goal is to achieve environmental benefit for automotive transportation. There are no immediate candidates that could disrupt present battery chemistries, but the potential is there. Below are the most promising experimental batteries worth mentioning.   

Lithium-metal (Li-metal)

Most lithium-metal batteries are non-rechargeable. Moli Energy of Vancouver was first to mass-produce a rechargeable Li-metal battery for mobile phones, but occasional shorts from lithium dendrites caused thermal runaway conditions and the batteries were recalled in 1989. Li-metal has a high specific energy. In 2010, a trial Li-metal-polymer with a capacity of 300Wh/kg was tested in an experimental electric vehicle (this compares to 80Wh/kg for the Nissan Leaf), but safety remains a major issue.   

Lithium-air (Li-air)

Li-air batteries borrow the idea from zinc-air and the fuel cell in that they breathe air. The battery uses a catalytic air cathode that supplies oxygen, as well as a lithium anode and electrolyte. Scientists anticipate an energy storage potential that is 5 to 10 times larger than that of Li-ion but say it will take one to two decades before the technology can be commercialized. Depending on materials used, Li-ion-air will produce voltages in between 1.7 and 3.2V/cell. IBM, Excellatron, Liox Power, Lithion-Yardney, Poly Plus, Rayovac and others are developing the technology. The theoretical specific energy of lithium-air is 13kWh/kg; aluminum-air has similar qualities, with an 8kWh/kg theoretical specific energy.

Lithium-sulfur (Li-S)

By virtue of the low atomic weight of lithium and the moderate weight of sulfur, lithium-sulfur batteries offer a very high specific energy of 550Wh/kg, about three times that of Li-ion, and a specific power potential of 2,500Wh/kg. During discharge, the lithium dissolves from the anode surface, and reverses itself when charging by plating itself back onto the anode. Li-S has good cold temperature discharge characteristics and can be recharged at –60°C (–76°F). The challenges are limited cycle life of only 40 to 50 charges/discharges and instabilities at high temperature. Since 2007, Stanford engineers get promising results experimenting nanowire. Li-S has a cell voltage of 2.10V and is environmentally friendly. Sulfur as the main ingredient is abundantly available.

Silicon-carbon Nanocomposite Anodes for Li-ion

Unlike carbon as the typical anode material in the regular lithium-ion battery, researchers have developed silicon-carbon nanocomposite. This promotes the access of lithium ions to achieve stable performance and a capacity gain of five times that of regular Li-ion. Manufacturing is said to be simple and low-cost, and the battery is safe; however, the cycle life is limited due to structural problems when inserting and extracting lithium-ion at high volume. 

Summary

During the last five years or so, no new battery emerged that could be called a major breakthrough. This is not surprising when considering that few other products have requirements as stringent as the battery. A battery must have high energy storage capability, provide a long service life, be safe to use, and require little maintenance. In addition, the battery must work at hot and cold temperatures, deliver high power on demand, charge quickly, and cost little. As we expand the use of the battery in transportation, it becomes apparent that this electrochemical power source is best suited for portable use. For motive applications such as trains, ocean going ships and aircraft, the battery lacks capacity, endurance and reliability. The dividing line, in my opinion, will be the electric vehicle. 

Grid Interactive Inverter

July 2, 2015

Interactive or multi-mode inverters are capable of operating in on-grid (hybrid) or off-grid modes and can be used to create both AC and DC coupled systems. The Interactive and solar inverter combination is the most common configuration and together form a typical AC coupled solar installation. These high end systems can also be expanded to work with multiple solar inverters or other energy generation systems in different locations to form independent micro-grids. SMA and Selectronic have long been regarded as the leaders in this field, however in the US Outback would be considered number one as they have optimised there Radian series inverters to work with the common split phase homes.

The Solar inverter can be almost any standard unit but it is usually either the same brand or is compatible with the interactive inverter to enable communication between the two inverters to optimise battery charging (this is very important for off-grid installations but not critical for hybrid systems).

The interactive inverter is the heart of the system and acts as a battery inverter/charger and complete energy management system, incorporating clever software to optimise energy use through features such as load shifting and peak-shaving. These inverters supply power to the loads in the same way as an off-grid inverter but also monitor grid connection (import and export power) and can be setup to automatically start and run a back-up gen-set (generator). In addition these inverters are capable of handling very high surge loads and can pass through additional power directly from the grid if the batteries are low or the load is very high. This pass through powercapability has many advantages but in particular it can enable the entire home to be powered through the inverter without the need to separate essential and non-essential loads or circuits.

The following list explains in detail the features and specifications of the various interactive inverters available. Since the solar inverter can be almost any type we will focus only on the interactive inverter. See the full inverter summary list here for easy direct comparison.

SP-Pro From Selectronic

Selectronic based in Melbourne, Australia is one of the largest off-grid/hybrid inverter manufacturers. Selectronic’s interactive inverters provide a basis for efficient, high-end, hybrid and off-grid power systems. Selectronic has teamed up with two european solar inverter manufactures - ABB and Kaco, which manufacture unique solar inverters designed to be used in conjunction with the SP-Pro.

Basic specifications:  (5 sizes available)

• Type: Interactive and solar Inverter (AC coupled)
• Use: UPS, self-use and off-grid power
• Solar Array Size (Solar input): n/a
• Sizes available (power output): 3.0kW, 4.5kW, 5.0kW, 7.5kW, 20kW
• Pass through power: 15kW
• Compatible Battery types: Lead-acid, lithium-ion (refer to manufacturer)
• Battery System Voltage: 24V, 48V, 120V

Features:

• Very high pass through power capability
• Very high surge power output
• Battery temperature monitoring for longer battery life
• Battery sense monitoring and mid string sensor for accurate battery charging (lead-acid Gel and AGM)
• Powerful software package with remote access
• Generator auto start and monitoring
• Complete battery storage option also available (Australia only)
• AC / DC coupling capability

Note:

• Separate solar inverter or solar DC regulator required
• Full capability when used with Kaco or ABB solar inverters
• Additional generator contactor required if used with dual AC sources.

Price bracket – High

Sunny Island From SMA

SMA Solar Technology is a German solar energy equipment supplier founded in 1981. It is the world's largest manufacturer of solar inverters. SMA is represented in 21 countries on four continents and is renowned for their high quality and service.

Basic specifications:  (4 sizes available)

• Type: Interactive Inverter and solar Inverter combo
• Use: UPS, self-use and off-grid power
• Solar Array Size (Solar input): n/a
• Sizes available (power output): 2.3kW, 3.3kW, 4.6kW, 6.0kW
• Pass through power: 11.5kW
• Compatible Battery types: Lead-acid, lithium-ion (refer to manufacturer)
• Battery System Voltage: 48V

Features:

• High pass through power capability
• High surge power output
• Battery temperature monitoring for longer battery life
• Battery sense monitoring for accurate battery charging
• Powerful software package with remote access
• Generator auto start and monitoring (optional)
• Dual AC inputs (grid and generator)
• Very good IP54 weather rating
• AC / DC coupling capability

Note:

• Separate solar inverter or solar DC regulator required
• Full capability when used with SMA or compatible solar inverters
• External automatic transfer switch required to enable battery backup.

Price bracket – High

Conext XW & XW+ From Schneider Electric

Schneider Electric is a well known, large European corporation and a leader in electrical product development and manufacture. Focusing on designing and developing products for the solar power conversion chain.

Basic specifications:  (3 sizes available)

• Type: Interactive Inverter and solar Inverter combo
• Use: UPS, self-use and off-grid
• Solar Array Size (Solar input): n/a
• Sizes available XW (power output): 4.0kW, 4.5kW, 6.0kW
• Sizes available XW+ (power output): 5.5kW, 6.8kW
• Pass through power: 14kW
• Compatible Battery types: Lead-acid, Lithium-ion (XW+ only)
• Battery System Voltage: 24V & 48V

Features:

• High surge power output
• Very high pass through power capability
• Battery temperature monitoring for longer battery life
• Generator auto start and monitoring (optional)
• Dual AC inputs (grid and generator)
• Programmable software with remote access
• AC / DC coupling capability

Note:

• Separate solar inverter or solar DC regulator required
• Full capability only when used with Schneider solar inverters & regulators

Price bracket – Medium/High

Radian Series By Outback Power Systems

Outback Power Systems is a North American company based in Arlington, WA, and have been producing high quality renewable energy products since 2001. Outback is also an innovative designer and manufacturer of reliable power electronics for renewable energy applications including solar, wind, micro-hydro and battery based energy systems.

Basic specifications:  (2 sizes available)

• Type: Interactive Inverter and solar Inverter combo
• Use: UPS, self-use and off-grid
• Solar Array Size (Solar input): n/a
• Sizes available (power output): 4.0kW, 8.0kW
• Pass through power:  3.6kW, 7.2kW
• Compatible Battery types: Lead-acid, Lithium-ion
• Battery System Voltage: 48V

Features:

• Dual AC inputs (Generator & grid)
• Split phase - 120/240V (North America)
• Very high surge power output
• Pass through power capability
• Battery temperature monitoring for longer battery life
• Powerful software package and advanced communications

Note:

• Additional Coupling unit required to enable AC coupling
• Full capability when used with Outback regulators.
• Only available in North, Central and Latin America.

Price bracket – Medium/High

ECOmulti By Victron Energy

Victron Energy founded in 1975 in Almere, Netherlands, has grown to become an international organisation with nearly 1000 different products sold in more than 60 countries. Victron Energy's product range includes battery chargers, sinewave inverters, sinewave inverters-chargers, DC/DC converters, transfer switches, battery monitors, charge controllers and more.

Basic specifications:  (1 size available^)

• Type: Interactive Inverter and solar Inverter combo
• Use: self-use, UPS, off-grid
• Solar Array Size (Solar input): 1.8kW-3.2kW
• Sizes available (power output): 2.5kW (^expandable)
• Pass through power: 11.5kW
• Compatible Battery types: Integrated lithium iron phosphate 2.3kWh
• Battery System Voltage: 24V

Features:

• All-in-one unit includes batteries and system management.
• Simple installation
• High pass through power capability
• High surge power capability
• Compact unit
• Additional battery storage available (^expandable)

Note:

• Separate solar inverter required
• Full capability only when used with Victon solar Inverters

Price bracket – Medium

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Nextrex Overview DC MicroGrid

When Thomas Edison first began devising ways to bring electricity into the average American
home more than 100 years ago, he proposed Direct Current as the means for delivering it. DC
was far safer and easier to produce than Alternating Current. But DC didn’t travel well, and
utilities eventually chose AC to transmit power.
For fifty years AC served the nation’s needs. But a scientific breakthrough—the
semiconductor—was developed that made many of our modern technological advancements
possible. Trouble was, semiconductors require DC power. To get around that issue, we currently
convert AC power to DC for our computer equipment, appliances and other devices, and lose a
significant percentage of that power in the process as heat.
Wouldn’t it be simpler to just use DC power outright? Many developers and businesspeople
think so and have begun to turn to Direct Current solutions when designing or renovating
building electrical systems and certain exterior lighting and signage applications. These DC
design solutions can be used lieu of or in addition to AC power.
Nextek Power Systems, Inc. is a pioneer in DC power networks for buildings. Our technology is
focused on designing and implementing building power systems that incorporate the latest and
best in renewable energy sources with existing grid power. By creating these strategies to
eliminate the need for conversion, we can substantially reduce energy costs, while increasing
reliability.

Tantangan Photovoltaic Indonesia versi APAMSI

INTERVIEW
SEKRETARIS JENDERAL
ASOSIASI PABRIKAN MODUL SURYA INDONESIA
(APAMSI)
1. Saat ini terdapat 8 pabrik perakitan modul surya di Indonesia, namun baru 5
perusahaan yang menjadi anggota APAMSI yaitu PT. LEN Industri (Persero),
PT. Surya Utama Putra, PT. Swadaya Prima Utama, PT. Adyawinsa Electrical &
Power, PT. Azet Surya Lestari dan PT. Wijaya Karya Intrade Energi.
2. Pabrikasi panel surya merupakan industri energi surya yang mempunyai resiko
paling kecil dibandingkan industri sel surya, industri wafer dst. Resiko ini terkait
biaya investasi yang dibutuhkan sedangkan permintaan industri di dalam negeri
masih rendah.
3. Produksi rata-rata anggota APAMSI adalah 16% dari total kapasitas produksi
karena masih mengandalkan proyek pemerintah. Akibatnya, pabrik hanya
bekerja pada bulan Agustus – Desember tiap tahunnya.
4. Pemerintah sebenarnya membuat pasar yang lebih besar yaitu lelang kuota
energi surya 140 MW di 82 lokasi sebagai bentuk implementasi Permen ESDM
17/2013 ttg Pembelian Tenaga Listrik oleh PT. PLN dari Pembangkit Listrik
Tenaga Surya Fotovoltaik;
5. Dengan target kapasitas 140MW tersebut, maka Indonesia layak membuat
industri sel surya di dalam negeri. Bila target ditingkatkan menjadi 500MW maka
layak dibangun industri wafer silika di dalam negeri selanjutnya jika target
menjadi 1 GW maka industri energi surya dalam negeri mampu menyerap
bahan mineral, nikel dan sebagainya untuk bahan baku panel surya.
6. Mineral nikel Indonesia selama ini diekspor di Cina untuk kemudian diproses
lebih lanjut menjadi silika → ingot → silikon → wafer → sel surya yang kemudian
diekspor kembali ke Indonesia untuk dirakit menjadi panel surya;
7. Untuk memaksa produsen membuka pabriknya di dalam negeri dapat meniru
langkah Malaysia yang melarang impor PLTS. Cara lain yang dapat dilakukan
adalah pelarangan expor mineral sehingga produsen akan bangun smelter di
dalam negeri dan kemudian expor ingot yang dihasilkan. Setelah itu, pemerintah
perlu keluarkan larangan expor ingot untuk paksa produsen produksi wafer di
dalam negeri.
8. Terkait lelang kuota PLTS, APAMSI tidak bisa berkompetisi dengan PLTS china
yang mempunyai kapasitas produksi 3,7 GW per tahun. China pun melakukan
dumping harga karena harga impor sel surya $0,697/W sedangkan harga impor
panel surya jadi $0,7/W. Akibatnya adalah :
CKD (Komponen panel surya?) Panel surya
FOB China ($/W) 0.697 0.7
CNF Tj. Priok 0.8 0.8
+BM, PPn, PPj Sel = 0%
Silin = 20%
ALE =10%
TGU=15%
0%
On truk ($/W) 1,1 – 1,2 0.8
9. Panel surya Cina sudah dikenakan sanksi dumping dan hal ini perlu ditiru oleh
Indonesia dengan sanksi sehingga harga panel surya cina menjadi $1,9/W. Hal
ini diperlukan karena biaya produksi APAMSI sebesar $1,3 – 1,5.
10. Kaca panel surya pun sebenarnyad bisa diproduksi di dalam negeri (contohnya
ASAHI) namun belum bisa melayani permintaan APAMSI yang dinilai terlalu
kecil yaitu volume 1 x produksi kaca setara engan volume penjualan APAMSI
selama 3 tahun.
11. Standarisasi SNI tidak bisa menutup impor PLTS Cina karena selama ini panel
surya Cina sudah memenuhi berbagai standar internasional dalam rangka
memasok kebutuhan Eropa.
12. Pemerintah sudah larang PLTS impor untuk proyek APBN namun masih
memperbolehkan untuk proyek kuota dengan syarat TKDN minimal 40%.
13. APAMSI merekomendasikan teknologi kristalin yang padat karya dan bahan
baku yang melimpah walau belum bisa diproduksi di dalam negeri. Teknologi
thin film memang mempunyai biaya produksi yang lebih murah namun
mempunyai efisiensi yang rendah. Selain itu, industri thin film adalah industri
padat modal dengan investasi sekitar $ 55 juta/ mesin untuk kapasitas 50 MW/
tahun. Pada saat ada teknologi thin film dengan efisiensi yang lebih baik, maka
industri harus ganti seluruh peralatan karena siste produksinya adalah inline.
14. APAMSI membutuhkan teknologi micro inverter dan in-charge untuk PLTS.
Industri pendukungnya seperti panel, trafo dan PCB sudah ada di dalam negeri.
15. TKDN Baterai buatan Nipres juga sudah mencapai 48%.
16. Penjelasan singkat mengenai kuota PLTS (Permen ESDM 17/2003) :
a. Kuota Kapasitas PLTS Fotovoltaik adalah jumlah maksimum kapasitas PLTS Fotovoltaik yang dapat
diinterkoneksikan pada suatu sistem/ subsistem Jarlngan tenaga listrik milik PLN.
b. Pemerintah menugaskan PLN untuk membeli tenaga listrik dari PLTS Fotovoltaik.
c. PLN wajib membeli seluruh tenaga listrik yang dihasilkan dari PLTS Fotovoltaik dari badan usaha
(BUMN, BUMD, swasta, dan koperasi) yang ditetapkan sebagai pemenang lelang Kuota Kapasitas.
d. Pembelian tenaga listrik dari PLTS Fotovoltaik untuk semua kapasitas terpasang ditetapkan dengan
harga patokan tertinggi sebesar US$ 25 sen/kWh.
e. Pembelian tenaga listrik, jika PLTS Fotovoltaik menggunakan modul fotovoltaik TKDN sekurangkurangnya 40%, diberikan insentif dan ditetapkan dengan harga patokan tertinggi sebesar US$ 30
sen/ kWh.
f. Harga patokan tertinggi sudah termasuk seluruh biaya interkoneksi dari PLTS Fotovoltaik ke titik
interkoneksi di jaringan tenaga listrik PLN.

Datasheet-AL-6063-T5

GENERAL INFORMATION
Alloy 6063 is a heat-treatable alloy having good combination of extrudability and mechanical properties, also responding well to
polishing, anodizing, chemical brightening and dyeing.
Thin-walled hollows and intricate solid shapes could be produced more readily and easily with this alloy.
ALLOY 6063
Aluminium-Magnesium-Silicon alloy (AlMgSiO)
Chemical Composition
%Si       %Fe %Cu  %Cu  %Mn      %Mg      %Cr  %Zn      %Ti      %Other    %Aluminium
0.35–0.50    0.10–0.30    0.10  0.10     0.35–0.55       0.05      0.10      0.10    0.05   Remainder
Mechanical Properties
Temper    Ultimate Tensile Strength (MPa)    0.2%Proof Stress (MPa)    % Elongation
T4    130          69        14
T5    150          110        7
T6    185          160        7
Physical Properties
Density              2.71 X 10⁻⁶ kg/mm³
Melting Range            600 – 650 °C
Specific Heat between 0 - 100°C        879 J/kg °C
Coefficient of linear expansion between 20 - 100°C  
Thermal Conductivity at 25°C        23 X 10⁻⁶ / °C
Electrical Resistivity at 20°C        0.033Ωm
Modulus of Elasticity          69 X 103 MPa
Temper Designation
F -   Indicates the as-fabricated condition where to control has been exercised over the temper of the alloy.
T -  Indicates the heat treated alloy.
T4 -  Solution heat treatment followed by natural ageing at room temperature to a substantial stable condition.
T5 -  Artificial ageing after an elevated temperature, rapid cooling fabrication process such as casting or extrusion.
T6 -  Solution heat treatment followed by artificial ageing.
For subsequent severe forming process as in bending, please opt for softer tempers.
Mill Finish
Natural aluminium finish of the extrusion-press with no further anodizing or coloring process.
Natural Anidizing Finish
By  means  of  electro-chemical  process  natural oxide-film  will  be  formed  and  thickened  considerably  on  the  metal  surface.  The
aluminium extrusion is then sealed in hot deionised-water which closes of the pores and permanently seals the oxide film imparting
to the metal surface the extreme hardness, corrosion and wear resistance of the oxide.
Alexindo  natural  anodized  finish  conform  to  International Standard  an  is  available  in  nominal  film-thickness  of  5,  10,  18  and  25
microns.
For normal and severe atmospheric condition, film thickness of 10 and 25 microns respectively should be recommended.
Colour Finish
In Alexindo colour process, inorganic metal colour particles are deposited and fixed electrolytically at the very base of the process of
anodic pores of anodic film allowing virtually full thickness off the anodic film to protect them.
The  aluminium  extrusion is  then  sealed in  hot  deionised water  which  closes off  the  pores  and  permanently  sealed in  the  colour
particles.
The  colouring  process  in combination  with anodizing is  to  yield  a  finish  which  is  lightfast,  abrasion  and  corrosion  resistance  and
unchanging colour intensity.
For normal and severe atmospheric condition, film thickness of 18 and 25 microns respectively should be recommended.